The Bureau of Indian Affairs doesn't seem to care about its federal recognition duties, a federal judge said on Monday.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Platt said the federal government needs to stay involved in a case that will decide whether the Shinnecock Nation of New York has sovereign rights. But the U.S. Attorney in New York is asking to be removed from the case.

Platt said he will decide on the tribe's status whether or not the BIA likes it. The BIA says the tribe should wait its turn, even if it takes another decade to resolve the tribe's petition.

The tribe is recognized by the state. The tribe filed a petition for federal recognition in 1978.

The case arose when the tribe decided to clear land for a casino on its state reservation in Long Island.

Get the Story:
Judge urges feds to take part in suit (Newsday 4/27)

Relevant Links:
Shinnecock Nation - http://www.shinnecocknation.com

Related Stories:
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation deserves an answer (04/02)
House panel sympathetic to tribes on recognition (04/01)
Hearing used to air complaints about tribal recognition (04/01)
Federal recognition process subject of two hearings (03/31)
Judge to have 'final word' on Shinnecock recognition (01/28)
Shinnecock Nation case tests legal waters (1/26)
Shinnecock leaders compare opposition to genocide (1/22)
BIA wants Shinnecocks to wait a decade for status (12/18)
N.Y. opinion affirmed Shinnecock Nation sovereignty (09/19)
Decision awaited in Shinnecock casino case (08/06)